Free Chinese Journalist Shi Tao

  • by: Care2.com
  • recipient: President Hu Jintao
Shi Tao was sentenced to 10 years in prison for reaching out to a U.S.-based pro-democracy group. He explained in an email to the group that the Chinese government had ordered the media to downplay the approaching anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy advocates.

Tao's act should fall under freedom of expression, cited in both Chinese and international law. However, because of China's vague legal definitions, Tao was imprisoned with the charge of, "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities."

China regularly suppresses the voices of journalists and activists, especially through internet communication. All internet messages must pass through a government router.

Ask Chinese president Hu Jintao to free Shi Tao and support freedom of expression.
Shi Tao is a Chinese journalist who reached out to a U.S.-based group for help when your government ordered the media to downplay the approaching anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy advocates.

He was sentenced to 10 years in jail for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." Shi Tao's actions should fall under "freedom of expression," which is cited in both Chinese and international law. However, because of the vague definition of "state secrets," an innocent man like Tao can be imprisoned and his voice silenced.

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China has been especially restrictive in regards to internet freedoms. Several sites with the words "freedom," "democracy," and "human rights" are blocked, and all internet communications pass through a government router.

Freedom of expression is a universal right valued worldwide. Allow Chinese citizens freedom of expression and free Shi Tao.
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